Indian Oil Corporation Limited has decided to effect the following price changes with effect from midnight of May 31 / June 1.

An increase in selling price of Petrol by Rs. 1.23/litre (excluding state levies)

Also, an increase in selling price of Diesel by Rs. 0.89/litre (excluding state levies)

The current level of international product prices of Petrol and Diesel and INR-USD exchange rate warrant increase in selling price of Petrol and Diesel, the impact of which is being passed on to the consumers with this price revision.

The movement of prices in the international oil market and INR-USD exchange rate shall continue to be monitored closely and developing trends of the market will be reflected in future price changes.

]]> New Delhi/Kolkata, Mar 21 (IBNS): Ahead of the 2014 General Elections, Tata Global Beverages and the Tata group on Friday released a 10-point 'Voice of 49%' women's manifesto, aggregating issues raised by more than a million women from across India.

The manifesto, an outcome of the 'Power of 49' campaign, aims at giving a voice to the women of India to be heard in the political discourse of our country.

The key issues that have emerged in the manifesto are broadly around the themes of violence, safety, health and education.

The Power of 49 campaign was launched by Tata Global Beverages, through their social awakening platform Jaago Re, and the Tata group in August 2013 with the objective of creating a more awakened and informed female electorate who constitute 49 percent of the world's largest democracy.

The issues that have emerged as a result of this campaign were studied and debated in depth by 14 experts led by the editorial team of CNN-IBN and have put together this 10-point 'Voice of 49%' manifesto, to be presented and discussed with political parties, in an attempt for them to integrate it into their political agenda.

Since the launch of the campaign, more than 1.4 million responses have come from all over the country through multiple communication platforms.

The highest participation has come from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar, respectively.

Speaking at this milestone, Vikram Grover, Vice President, Marketing, India and South Asia, Tata Global Beverages said, "The objective of the campaign was to create a large number of educated women voters with a view that an informed female electorate would propel the political leaders to include their issues in the agenda in the forthcoming elections. Our study indicates that women are beginning to understand the role they play in forming a government and are more inclined towards voting now. We are delighted by the overwhelming 1.4 million responses received through our Power of 49 initiative where women have expressed their specific issues.

"These issues were collated in a manifesto that represents the collective voice of the Aam Aurat. Our triumph lies in Tata Tea Jaago Re becoming a platform for national discourse for issues like the importance of voting and the ills of corruption. With the Power of 49, we have reached another milestone with respect to women and their role in the forthcoming elections and the future of our democracy," he added.

Power of 49 is being supported by the Tata group as it aligns closely with the group's social agenda. The campaign saw Tata group companies and employees coming together in the spirit of volunteering to play their part in amplifying the impact of the campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, Mukund Rajan, Member - Group Executive Council and Brand Custodian, Tata Sons said, "The Tata group is proud to associate with Power of 49, which aims to create awareness among the women voters of India about the power they have to bring about change. The 'Voice of 49%' manifesto represents an opportunity for Indian women to cast informed votes for candidates who address their issues and at the same time gets political parties to see women as a determining factor in elections. We believe that women's empowerment is an important subject for our nation's progress, and the Power of 49 initiative is a step in that direction, seeking to give women their rightful place in the future of our country."

The Power of 49 campaign comprises of three phases.

The first phase was focused on creating awareness amongst women to the Power of 49% and the power of their informed vote.

In the second and the current phase is about encouraging women to voice out their issues that are critical to them, their family and locality through forging partnerships and communicating it through multiple platforms.

With the impactful 'KaalaTeeka' television commercial, the 'Push the Pin' initiative and the endorsement of leading television soap protagonists through the Bahu Nahi Bahumat platform, the initiative has encouraged women from across the country to raise their voice.

Tata Global Beverages partnered with General Entertainment channels (GECs), news channels, and an NGO to broaden its reach and create maximum impact resulting in the creation of the 'Voice of 49%' manifesto.

Through the creation of manifesto, the final phase of the campaign urges women to go and cast an informed vote for a candidate who is most likely to address their issues ahead of General Elections 2014.]]> Embracing different hues and shades, West Bengal along with parts of India are celebrating the festival of colours, 'Holi' on Sunday with grandeur, fun and fervour.

The occasion generally spreads over two days in the country with some regions celebrating Holi on Monday.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has wished the country on the occasion of Holi.

"On the happy occasion of Holi, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens," the President said in his message.

"As spring arrives, this festival of colours brings with it a joyous celebration of the rejuvenation of nature and ushers in renewed faith in peaceful co-existence. Holi not only brings joy and gaiety in our lives but also provides an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood among people of all faiths," he said.

Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee tweeted: "Bosonto utsab hoe uthuk anonder (May the Vasant Utsav bring happiness)."]]> Humanitarian charitable organization World Vision India recently brought up a manifesto to put together by vulnerable children from various parts of the country, seeking the attention of political parties and candidates ahead of the 2014 general elections.

As India is all set for its election process to get underway from Apr 7 onwards, the vulnerable children are seeking votes for their cause.

The children's manifesto, was put together by children after a year-long campaign initiated by World Vision India, in partnership with 160 networks and NGOs.

The organizers had conducted state level assemblies of vulnerable children in 20 states.

"Children should be held at centre stage and given priority in the political agenda of the country so that they get their rightful share. Children cannot vote, and thus the need to listen to them and address their issues. The onus is on the political parties and candidates to factor their demands," said Jayakumar Christian, CEO, World Vision India.

The children were also introduced to the objectives of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) and discussions were facilitated on the basis of their priorities for the post 2015 MDG agenda.

N. Rajesh, a visually impaired boy from Tamilnadu voiced his concerns over the need to address the issue of equal rights for the disabled.

"My dream is that the disabled be given equal opportunity," he said.

The children are approaching various political parties and their candidates across the country to take up their cause and give them an ear.]]> The RUDI Sandesh Vyavhar project, a collaborative effort between Vodafone Foundation, SEWA and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women was honoured at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona for The Best Mobile Product, Initiative or Service in Emerging Markets category.

On behalf of the project, the award was received by Vodafone India MD & CEO Marten Pieters and Cherie Blair in Barcelona, Spain.

The award presented in a ceremony in Barcelona, which offers organisations across the global mobile eco-system (including all converging vertical sectors) the opportunity to showcase the latest and best mobile products, apps, services and initiatives to the world. The global mobile award for SEWA gives the project credit on a global platform and is the highest in its category of recognition.

Accepting the award, MD & CEO, Vodafone India, Marten Pieters said: "Women in rural India face several challenges. Given its wide reach, mobile telephony is an effective and efficient medium to provide last mile delivery of products and services that they need. The RUDI project, where Vodafone Foundation has partnered with SEWA and the Cherie Blair Foundation is an excellent example of how rural women entrepreneurs are now using mobile phones to manage their purchase, sales and inventory resulting in substantial increase in their incomes. Such awards and recognition, I believe, salute the sustained spirit of innovation that drives all such projects and enables to bring a meaningful change in the society."

Developed as a collaborative effort by the Vodafone Foundation, Cherie Blair Foundation for women and SEWA, RSV enables Rudibens to order stock from the field (often distant villages), receive important updates from the RUDI Company in real time, and run reports on their business - all with the convenience of automated text messaging on feature phones.

It has eliminated inefficiencies by tracking all primary and secondary sales in the central supply chain and transferring the entire management of the RUDI business from a paper based system to one based on a secure electronic backend. The software was developed by Ekgaon Technologies - a local vendor based in India.

Since its launch at the Mobile for Good Summit, December 2012, London, UK, more than 1,000 RUDI women have been trained on the RSV tool. The women who have used the tool have already seen benefits. For example, there are RUDI Women who earned Rs. 4,000-5,000 per month, now generating incomes of Rs. 12,000-15,000, effectively tripling or quadrupling sales, through using the RSV tool.

One woman who previously reported only being able to afford one meal a day for her family can now afford two.

Future plans include up scaling the impact and integrating M-pesa to the RSV tool with an aim to benefit 2,500 women in Gujarat by 2015. The easy adaptability and functionality of the RSV tool provides many opportunities to scale up RUDI operations in other states as well.

The next step involves technical enhancement of the RSV tool and incorporation of Vodafone's M-Pesa service into the RUDI channel. Eleven additional technical features will include elements such as SMS alerts on orders, a mobile app for customers to place direct orders with Rudibens and a feature that will enable the transfer of customer-specific transaction data from the phones of the RUDI women directly to the RSV backend.

Expressing her happiness at the award, Reema Nanavaty, Director of SEWA said,"The Best Mobile Product, Initiative or Service in Emerging Markets award to Rudi Sandesha Vyavhar (RSV) application jointly developed by SEWA, the Cherie Blaire Foundation and the Vodafone Foundation demonstrates - how investing right technology in rural, poor, small farmers agribusiness initiative, strengthens the supply chain, makes it competitive to mainstream small farmers and women for Private Sector Partnership. The Rudi Sandesha Vyavhar strengthens the business opportunities, but also improves household nutrition and food security."

Cherie Blair, the Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation said, "I am thrilled that our project with SEWA and the Vodafone Foundation in India has received this award. This is a testament, not only to the work that organisations like Sewa are doing for women, but to the power that mobile technology can have. This simple, user-friendly application that we have developed is transforming women's lives. It is my hope that our project will inspire other organisations to use innovative technology solutions to do more to support women's economic empowerment."

]]> Embracing different hues and shades, West Bengal along with parts of India are celebrating the festival of colours, 'Holi' on Sunday with grandeur, fun and fervour.

The occasion generally spreads over two days in the country with some regions celebrating Holi on Monday.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has wished the country on the occasion of Holi.

"On the happy occasion of Holi, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens," the President said in his message.

"As spring arrives, this festival of colours brings with it a joyous celebration of the rejuvenation of nature and ushers in renewed faith in peaceful co-existence. Holi not only brings joy and gaiety in our lives but also provides an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood among people of all faiths," he said.

The conference aims to explore the nuances of women cooperative entrepreneurship in India and the challenges it faces in becoming a major driving force of economic empowerment of women in India.

Cooperatives are networks that individuals develop to deal with such challenges in solidarity.

With such cooperation and collaboration, women can devise strategies to overcome the handicap that they might face due to institutional and societal discrimination through innovation and solidarity.

As a think tank which is invested in research and analysis of the agrarian economy, rural developments, cooperatives and women empowerment, IFFCO Foundation aims to understand the how participation of women in cooperatives and entrepreneurship and women´s cooperatives, women can empower women to be recognized as a self sufficient, innovative and economically independent members of society.

Eminent scholars, experts, policy makers, resource persons, development practitioners shared their insights on different aspects of the theme.

The participants brought in various perspectives from a variety of sectors to the table which will facilitate a healthy and informed discourse on the issue of economic empowerment of women in India.

The Conference was presided by Former Union Minister and Trustee IFFCO Foundation, Suresh Prabhu and Ntia Chowdhary, IAS, Secretary, Department of Official language will be the chief guest.

A keynote address was delivered by Dr A K Bhutani, Joint Secretary and Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

IFFCO Foundation expects the dialogues and insights to generate policy, program and institutional recommendations which will encourage cooperative entrepreneurship, which can then lead to empowerment of women, socially, economically and politically.

An effort was made to disseminate this knowledge as widely as possible among women networks.]]> Private sector bank ICICI Bank on Saturday crossed a milestone of supporting one million women beneficiaries through its programme for Self Help Groups (SHG) which aims at empowering less privileged women to become self-reliant.

SHG is a term used for a group of 10-20 less privileged women, primarily from rural and semi urban areas, who pool their resources on a periodic basis and use this money for income generating activities like cattle and goat rearing, kirana/grocery vending, jewellery making, handicrafts and emergency needs among others.

Chanda Kochhar, Managing Director & CEO, ICICI Bank, handed over a cheque to Manisha Bangar, the one millionth woman beneficiary, in Mumbai on International Women's Day on Saturday.

Bangar, 29 and mother of two, represents Sant Janabai Mahila Swayam Sahaya Bachat Gat from Sheel village in Shahpur, Thane district. Wife of a marginal farmer, Bangar works as an assistant tailor and dreams to set-up her own tailoring shop. She will use part of the loan to buy a new sewing machine and take the first step towards fulfilling her dream.

Speaking at the event, Kochhar said, "I am delighted to announce that the Bank, through its work with SHGs, has touched the families of a million women beneficiaries. This is an important milestone for the Bank and I am happy to commemorate it on International Women's Day. The zeal of these remarkable women inspires us. I believe that the entrepreneurial spirit of these women is the reason for the success of our SHG programme. It urges us to continue funding their dreams and help uplift their families. Over the next year, we intend to double our reach and support over two million women with cumulative loan disbursements of Rs 2,500 crore."

In the last 30 months, ICICI Bank has helped over 70,000 SHGs across 164 districts of seven states. The bank runs the programme through a dedicated pool of 550 employees who look after servicing SHGs spread across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It is the fastest growing bank in India in the SHG space.]]> The Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) Foundation, a global leader in cooperative entrepreneurship and cooperative development, on Saturday hosted a conference on 'Inspiring Change: Role of Cooperative and Entrepreneurship in Women Empowerment', here at the NASC Complex Pusa.

The conference aims to explore the nuances of women cooperative entrepreneurship in India and the challenges it faces in becoming a major driving force of economic empowerment of women in India.

Cooperatives are networks that individuals develop to deal with such challenges in solidarity.

With such cooperation and collaboration, women can devise strategies to overcome the handicap that they might face due to institutional and societal discrimination through innovation and solidarity.

As a think tank which is invested in research and analysis of the agrarian economy, rural developments, cooperatives and women empowerment, IFFCO Foundation aims to understand the how participation of women in cooperatives and entrepreneurship and women´s cooperatives, women can empower women to be recognized as a self sufficient, innovative and economically independent members of society.

Eminent scholars, experts, policy makers, resource persons, development practitioners shared their insights on different aspects of the theme.

The participants brought in various perspectives from a variety of sectors to the table which will facilitate a healthy and informed discourse on the issue of economic empowerment of women in India.

The Conference was presided by Former Union Minister and Trustee IFFCO Foundation, Suresh Prabhu and Ntia Chowdhary, IAS, Secretary, Department of Official language will be the chief guest.

A keynote address was delivered by Dr A K Bhutani, Joint Secretary and Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

IFFCO Foundation expects the dialogues and insights to generate policy, program and institutional recommendations which will encourage cooperative entrepreneurship, which can then lead to empowerment of women, socially, economically and politically.

An effort was made to disseminate this knowledge as widely as possible among women networks.]]> The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) recently stated that, the companies that have women on their boards generate value to their corporations by broadening market vision, enhancing board dynamics, inspiring female stockholders and improving corporate reputation, here.

Earlier, on Feb 18, at the occasion of the International Woman´s Day 2014, the Heritage Business School in association with Enterprise Development Institute (promoted by Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry) had organized a panel discussion on ´Women in Metro, breaking the glass ceiling,´ here.

The objective of the discussion was to create a platform to have successful and experienced entrepreneurial women share their background, career path and life's journey, to inspire and motivate others who wish to follow their path and more so to those who wish to carve their own path.

Bratati Bandhyopadhyay shared her inspiring journey on how she became an eminent elocutionist, whereas, Agnimitra Paul narrated her experience on how she chose fashion designing as a profession.

Moreover, Minu Budhia depicted her experience on creating a world-class organization Add-life Caring Minds, which took lots of courage and innovation.

Urmi Basu spoke about the essential qualities which women entrepreneurs should possess to be successful in the society.

Taking the risk and making a hobby as a profession where the main success mantras of the personalities who were present in the panel discussion.

Moreover, their journey towards a successful career was full of turmoil and being a woman the intensity of the turmoil created by the society was to a greater extent.

But nevertheless their urge to become successful by breaking the glass ceiling took them to what they are now.

According to the officials, more than 200 participants attended the discussion, listening to the inspiring talk of the women leaders.

The programme was also contributed by Aloke Kr. Sen, Director, Heritage Business School; Samir Kumar Ghosh, Director, Enterprise Development Institute and Rimu Chaudhuri, Faculty, Heritage Business School and Coordinator of the programme.]]> On the occasion of the World Social Justice day, survivors of the Union Carbide gas leak in Bhopal on Thursday sent a letter to the United Nations asking the UN to provide much needed technical assistance for the survivors of the world's worst industrial disaster.

The Bhopal survivors also called upon the UN to terminate its association with Dow Chemical Company, USA in view of its continuing violations of human rights through refusal to carry out toxic clean up in Bhopal.

The letter from the Bhopal survivors were delivered to the UN offices in New Delhi and in New York by supporters.

The letter stated that it was a matter of serious concern that almost 30 years into disaster in Bhopal, not one of the UN agencies has lived up to its mandate by providing technical and other assistance towards the continuing humanitarian crisis in Bhopal.

It said that while the UN has been negligent towards its responsibilities in Bhopal, it has actively built its association with corporation responsible for the ongoing disaster in Bhopal.

The Bhopal survivors demanded that the United Nations terminate the membership of Dow Chemical, current owner of Union Carbide, in the United Nations Foundation for its ongoing violations of the human rights of the people of Bhopal.

They said that their supporters in USA were also delivering a copy of the letter to the UN office in New York on Thursday.

Bhopal survivors said that different UN agencies could provide vital technical assistance towards medical relief and environmental remediation in Bhopal. However, agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Children´s Fund (UNICEF) have chosen to remain quiet for the last 30 years.

In their letter to the UN Secretary General, the Bhopal survivors have called for assistance from WHO for developing treatment protocols for exposure induced chronic illnesses.

They also asked for technical assistance from UNEP for scientific assessment of the contamination of soil and ground water in and around Union Carbide´s abandoned factory in Bhopal.

The organizations have urged the Secretary General to direct the United Nations Human Rights Council to produce a report on the ongoing human rights violations in Bhopal due to the acts of omission and commission by the two US corporations.

]]> Leaders of five organizations of the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal, addressing on the ongoing crisis in the Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre (BMHRC), on Monday sought punitive action against five corrupt and unethical consultants who have caused the hospital to move away from its original objective of serving Bhopal gas victims.

The organizations also called upon the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), to rededicate BMHRC to its original purpose and ensure that the best medical talents in the country join the hospital at the earliest to respond to the continuing medical crisis caused by the disaster of 1984.

Presenting data from the Cardiac Cath Lab at BMHRC, the organizations showed that Dr S K Trivedi, one of the consultants leaving BMHRC, had only carried out 20 procedures on gas victims between Nov 1, 2013 and Jan 8, 2014 while his colleagues carried out as many as 131 procedures on gas victims during the same period.

In contrast, Dr Trivedi carried out 78 cardiac procedures on non-gas victim private patients during the same period.

"Dr Trivedi has only shown interest in gas victims when he has used them as guinea pigs for unethical drug trials. He should be punished by the ICMR for his corrupt and discriminatory practices." said Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh.

Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action shared copies of email correspondence that she has had under an assumed name with one of the assistants of Dr. Subodh Varshney.

These emails suggest that Dr. Varshney was misusing BMHRC facilities for private gain of lakhs of rupees through Bariatric surgeries on private patients.

Dhingra also presented data for the year 2013 from the gastro-surgery department headed by Dr. Varshney that shows that while only 3 percent of gas victims reporting at the day clinics were admitted to the hospital, in the case of private patients the corresponding figure was 18 percent.

Dhingra said that both Dr. Trivedi and Dr. Varshney are facing court cases for their involvement in unethical drug trials during which as many as 9 gas victims have died.

Balkrishna Namdeo, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogi Sangharsh Morcha said that Dr Nitin Garg, one of the senior consultants soon leaving BMHRC has also been grossly discriminating against gas victims.

Namdeo said that official records from the Neurosurgery unit of BMHRC show that 64 percent of the patients of Dr. Garg in 2013 were private patients.

While 8 percent of the gas victims reporting at the day clinics were admitted to the Neurosurgery ward, the corresponding figure for private patients was 27 percent.

Nawab Khan, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha presented the two different kinds of letterheads currently being used for gas victims and private patients by Dr. Kamlesh Talesra, a radiologist who wishes to leave BMHRC.

Khan pointed out that in clear violation of administrative directives, Dr. Talesra provides his private contacts in the letterheads meant for private patients.

Children Against Dow Carbide's Safreen Khan alleged that Dr. Dolly Chandra got private patients to purchase optical lenses at high rates instead of using the optical lenses of same quality supplied by the BMHRC at one third cost.

She said that this routine corruption is evident in the official records of surgical procedures carried in Ophthalmology and the inventory of optical lenses in the department.

The organizations said that the ICMR should let the unethical bunch of consultants leave BMHRC at the earliest while making sure that those responsible for the unethical drug trials on gas victims remain personally accountable.

The organizations demanded that recruitments at BMHRC should be according to central government rules instead of the current practice in which the rules of the old Bhopal Memorial Hospital Trust are also followed.]]> Bangalore, Feb 8 (IBNS) The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) on Saturday celebrated the pursuit of basic and applied sciences by honoring seven researchers for outstanding contributions to their respective fields of study here.

The fifth year celebrations saw former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan felicitating winners of the Infosys Prize 2013 across six categories - Engineering and Computer Science, Humanities, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences.

The seven winners of the Infosys Prize 2013 were - Ramgopal Rao for Engineering and Computer Science, Nayanjot Lahiri for Archaeology and Ayesha Kidwai for Linguistics under the Humanities category, Rajesh Gokhale for Life Sciences, Rahul Pandharipande for Mathematics, Shiraz Naval Minwalla for Physical Sciences and Aninhalli R. Vasavi for Social Sciences.

Annan said, "Academic and scientific research play a core role towards solving some of the big challenges of our times such as climate change, environmental degradation, food shortages and poverty alleviation. Scientific research is also key in the long overdue switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy and green technologies. It is no overstatement to say that the future of the world depends on the ingenuity of the young scientists dedicating their lives and talents to the resolution of these issues."

N.R. Narayana Murthy, Trustee, Infosys Science Foundation and Executive Chairman of the Board, Infosys said, "Progress of scientific research in India is crucial to the development of our nation and an area of keen interest to me. I am a scientist at heart with an enduring romance for science. The Infosys Prize is the culmination of a long cherished vision to recognize excellence in research and inspire many more Indians to pursue careers in fields of science and humanities."]]> Non-profit organisation GVK EMRI in association with Gujarat government has launched 181 - the Abhayam Women Helpline for all women in Gujarat.

The helpline, launched in collaboration with the home and women and child welfare departments, will be synchronized with the existing "1091 - Gujarat Police Helpline" and other women-oriented services.

The free 24x7 helpline, 181, is a toll-free number to support women in distress and is accessible through any mobile or landline. Any women can access 181 "Abhayam" helpline for the purpose of counseling, guidance, information and also for the rescue in various threatening situations including domestic violence.

"181-Abhayam will add value to the life of common people of Gujarat. This is an excellent step towards assurance of women empowerment in the state," said Minister of Revenue & Urban Development Anandiben Patel, while inaugurating the service in Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

Initially the services will be available in Ahmedabad city, Surat City and Gandhinagar District.

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SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Brent futures held near $108 a barrel on Thursday as bitter cold across the northern Hemisphere boosted heating oil demand, while the U.S. Federal Reserve's move to trim its monetary stimulus weighed on prices.

Weak Chinese manufacturing data and the Fed's decision to stick with the plan to wind down economic stimulus despite recent turmoil in emerging markets weighed on riskier assets, including Asian shares. But losses in oil were limited as a fall in U.S. distillates stocks by more than double what was expected revived demand hopes in a seasonally weak period.

Brent crude had slipped 6 cents to $107.79 a barrel by 0514 GMT, after settling 44 cents higher. U.S. oil rose 9 cents to $97.45 a barrel, having ended down 5 cents.

"A weak Chinese economy is a bearish factor for oil," said Ken Hasegawa, a commodity sales manager at Newedge Japan.

"But the market is finely balanced right now, with rising crude production being offset by an overall improvement in the global economy."

The balance means oil will trade in a narrow range, Hasegawa said. Brent may stay between $107 and $108.50 a barrel, with the U.S. benchmark holding at the $96.50-$98.50 level, he said.

The Fed's move was widely expected, although some investors had speculated the U.S. central bank might put its plans on hold given the jitters overseas. A pullback in stimulus will strengthen the dollar, weighing on any commodities priced in the currency, such as oil.

U.S. INVENTORIES

U.S. distillate stocks fell 4.6 million barrels last week, data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed, versus forecasts of a decrease of 2.2 million barrels.

Distillate inventories were 116 million barrels nationwide in the week ended January 24, and on the East Coast, which has suffered two cold snaps this month, they fell 3.8 million barrels to 29.5 million barrels, the lowest since April 2008.

Crude stocks rose by 6.4 million barrels, far more than the 2.3 million barrel build expected in a poll, to 358 million barrels as refinery maintenance began.

Distillate stocks fell despite an increase in refinery production and a fall in net exports of oil products out of the country, analysts at BNP Paribas said in a note.

The higher production and fall in imports "were insufficient to prevent the large stock draw that leaves (distillate) inventories far below the bottom of the five-year range for this time of year," BNP Paribas said. "With colder than normal weather expected in coming days, stocks may decline further."

Prices also remain supported by concerns over supply disruptions from the Middle East and North Africa.

Libya's deputy prime minister survived unhurt after gunmen fired on his car in Tripoli on Wednesday in an attack reflecting the violent chaos plaguing the North African nation two years after Muammar Gaddafi's fall.

For a 24-hr analysis on Brent: http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/F/1/20143001085541.jpg

Brent/WTI spread: http://link.reuters.com/dyz46s

(Reporting by Manash Goswami; Editing by Joseph Radford)

]]> Twelve physically challenged young men are set to row in four country boats all the way from Murshidabad to Kolkata's Man-O-War jetty between Jan 30 and Feb 2.

The expedition will be a part of the seventh edition of the 'Beyond Belief' series, which will culminate in its flag-in by several important guests at the famous jetty by the Hooghly.

'Beyond Belief' is a programme meant to prove that people with physical deficiencies are also capable and able - differently able. The objective is to try and give them the dignity of life and provide them with succor to integrate them into the mainstream society in general.

The mover of this project is Abhijit Das Gupta, a former Station Director of Doordarshan, Head ESPN and Bureau Chief WTN; and a multi award-winning documentary film maker.

His Beyond Belief documentaries (Beyond Belief 1 to 5) have won more than a dozen International Awards.

Kolkata Sukriti Foundation has been organizing this unique event with The Lions Clubs International. They overcome another hurdle with just the help of volunteers and shoestring budgets, with the hope that somebody somewhere notices the plight of these immensely-able athletes and provide them succor.]]> Indian strategic philanthropy foundation Dasra has announced a Rs. 3 crore grant to The Naz Foundation India Trust.

The funding, raised as part of Dasra Giving Circle (DGC) collaborative giving initiative, will provide impetus to Naz Foundation to empower adolescent girls through the Goal Program.

The program has been successfully using netball and life skills education to transform the lives of young underprivileged girls in India, on and off the court.

Naz Foundation, that also works on the HIV issue, was the first to file the litigation against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code in 2001 to decriminalize homosexuality.

It continues to fight strongly with a review petition against the recent SC order.

Speaking specifically on the DGC funding and Goal program's focus and potential over the next few years, Naz Foundation's Kalyani Subramanyam said, "Through the scaled up roll out of Goal across Delhi and Mumbai we will influence the lives of over 30,000 adolescent girls creating a critical mass of empowered girls and also building a skilled cadre of peer leaders who will act as agents of change."

Speaking about public private partnerships, she said, "This project will help build partnerships with the government and integrate the delivery of life skills through sport into the school curriculum. Naz India will take on the role of an advocate for the use of sport as a tool for development and building capacities of grassroot organizations to design and implement sports based programs".

For 6 months Dasra reviewed over 100 non profit organizations across India to identify and profile the top ten organizations in its research report - Power of Play.

The report, funded by the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP), highlights the role of sports and games alongside formal education and maps high impact interventions and solutions that can create impact at scale.

Dasra Giving Circle (DGC), which brings together individuals and organizations to provide long term funding support of at least three years, enables promising organizations scale.

DGC member and UK based philanthropist, Hemant Patel said, "Victimization is not only a perpetrator problem, tackling all forms of abuse against girls requires them to be empowered. Sport is a wonderful way for girls to build solidarity through teamwork, self esteem through performance, confidence through achievement and ambition through competition."

Dasra will also provide 300 days of intensive hands on support to Naz Foundation to scale the Goal program. Vishal Kapoor, Manager, Dasra Portfolio services added, "The power of sport for development is often under-estimated and unexplored. In a gender-biased country, only sports has the potential to cut across the gender barriers and helps these adolescents step out of their homes, play and learn as equals. Sport can also be crafted in a manner that promotes personal and economic development of these young girls."]]> Extending its support to road safety initiatives - global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services SKF India on Friday announced the sponsoring of 125 safety barricades to the Pune city traffic police.

At an event at the SKF Pune factory premises, Shishir Joshipura, Managing Director and Country Head, SKF India handed over safety barricades to Vishwas Pandhare, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pune city traffic police.

Joshipura said, "Our guiding principle of SKF Care includes community care. SKF will continue to contribute towards making a meaningful difference to the communities we operate in and hence we extend our support to this endeavor of Pune city traffic police."

Pandhare said, "When on road, always say Pehle Aap (you first) which was also the theme for this year's road safety fortnight."

The DCP added, "Road safety is of paramount importance and it is vital to take adequate measures to avoid mishaps. Placing safety barricades is a small step in the right direction and we are pleased to have SKF support us, in ensuring a safer environment for the people of Pune."

SKF India extended its support to this safety initiative by Pune traffic police to help them in increasing awareness about road safety and ensuring reduced road accidents in the future.

To promote and create awareness about road safety and traffic rules, Pune city traffic police had scheduled a 'Road Safety Week' from Jan 3 to Jan 17.]]> Two-wheeler manufacturer Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) have roped in 'Chhota Bheem', - a popular animation character, in order to inculcate safe riding habits among kids along with their families.

Honda in a bid to promote safety riding among kids in a fun manner, partnered kids channel Pogo and associated with Chhota Bheem, as educating young minds on road safety is an effective way of spreading messages for the entire family.

As a next step, Honda saw perfect synergy and brand fitment in ´Chhota Bheem´ who is the role model to not just small kids but the entire family, the officials informed.

In his exploits with his friends in Dholakpur village, Chhota Bheem character conveys all the aspects of a superhero - be it strong values, might, courage, discipline or learning.

Honda further informed that very soon 'Honda Safe Riding with Chhota Bheem' will be organized in 11 cities across India, where Chota Bheem will engage and interact with kids and people at large.

The national inaugural event in Delhi will be followed by Jaipur, Indore, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Greater Noida and Nagpur.

'Honda Safe Riding with Chhota Bheem' will provide an opportunity for kids to learn safety riding tips, meet 'Chhota Bheem´ and get clicked with their favorite Super Hero.

Fun and interactive activities like understanding road sense in CRF 50, painting competitions etc., will drive home the message of road safety through fun times with family.

Further, all Honda dealerships will carry new POP material for spreading the road safety message amongst kids suitably supported with the free distribution of Road safety education material in schools.

Also a Chota Bheem TVC on Pogo will be aired to spread road safety messages backed by the aggressive digital media campaign.

Keita Muramatsu - President & CEO, HMSI said, "As HMSI expands in production capacity, the social responsibility of the company is getting bigger. HMSI has further built its commitment towards road safety by associating with Pogo and Popular character Chhota Bheem."

"Honda together with Chhota Bheem shall spread the message on the importance of road safety across the country," said Muramatsu.

Y S Guleria, Vice President - Sales & Marketing, HMSI said, "Safe riding is Honda's priority worldwide and in India too. Research showed us that not just 73 percent kids between 4-14 years but also a high percentage of parents regularly watch Chhota Bheem."

"Hence, it was an obvious choice for Honda to align with Pogo & we are delighted to welcome Chhota Bheem. With his lively presence, Honda will spread safety message forward among kids and their families," Guleria added.

Juhi Ravindranath, Vice President, Ad Sales, South Asia, Turner International India Pvt. Ltd said, "Pogo is excited to partner with Honda two wheelers on this noble initiative. Chhota Bheem's immense popularity and admiration with kids and parents only helps us reinforce the message of road safety."]]> Anti-sex trafficking organization Apne Aap Women Worldwide has started a campaign asking UN Women, UNAIDS, UNFPA and UNDP to withdraw recommendations of a note over -Sex Work and the Law in Asia and Pacific: A UNDP,UNFPA and UNAIDS report, Oct 2012 and HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights and Health, UNDP, 2012- asking countries to decriminalze pimping, buying sex and brothel-keeping.

"Such a move will fuel huge sex-trafficking as those who buy and sell women will get off scot free," said Apne Aap Founder, Ruchira Gupta.

"The UN Women note and the UNAIDS reccommendations are in violation of agreed upon protocols and conventions that India and other member sates of the UN are party to. This backdoor attempt to push through policies without getting the formal agreement of member states is a a dangerous precedent. If India and other members states ignore this, other treaties and conventions may be flouted as well," she said.

More than a 1,000 individuals and organizations representing victims and survivors, women, Dalit, Denotified Criminal Tribe, Backward Class, Hill Tribe, Indigenous, LGBT, and First Nation groups have signed a petition that Apne Aap will submit to UN Women in Delhi on Jan 7.

According to the organization, the recommendations and note are in direct violation of the following:

1. UN Protocol to End Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, 2000;

2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

3. Supplementary Conventionon the Abolition of Slavery, the Salve Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, 1956;

4. Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of Prostitution of Others, 1949;

5. Guidelines in the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 1979).

Petitioners have also objected to UN Women reccommending that their sexual exploitation be called "sex work".

The Apne Aap petition addressed to the Phumzile Mlambo Ngucak, Executive Director, UN Women said: "We do not want to be called 'sex workers' but prostituted women and children, as we can never accept our exploitation as 'work'. We think that the attempts in UN documents to call us 'sex workers' legitimizes violence against women, especially women of discriminated caste, poor men and women, and women and men from minority groups, who are the majority of the prostituted."

According to the CBI, there are three million women and girls trapped in prostituion in India, of which 1.4 million are girls.

The average of entry into prostitution is between nine and thirteen, according to the National Human Rights Commission.

The majority of the prostituted are girls and women from scheduled castes and other backward classes.

Girls and women are trafficked mainly for purposes of prostitution, child marriage, organ trade, surrogacy, and cheap labour. One of the worst forms of trafficking is now inter-generational prostitution where former denotified criminal tribes are forced to pass down prostitution from mother to daughter or daughter-in-law by upper caste and upper class gangs.]]>